D'Angelo Ponds is an extremely undersized cornerback, but is still worthy of being a first-round pick.
Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds has been absent from most first-round conversations due to his lack of height. This is an understandable concern, but he arguably has the best film of any cornerback in the class. His mentality, paired with his athletic ability and elite technique, makes him an intriguing option for the Minnesota Vikings at pick 18.
Cornerback is a dire need for the Vikings. Their group is led by Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers, which won’t strike fear into an opposing defense. It’s pivotal that they add both top-end talent and additional depth this offseason.
Ponds size will get scrutinized during the pre-draft cycle. He’s extremely small, standing at 5-foot-9, 173 pounds. This will scare off some teams from having him higher on their draft board. However, he’s dealt with size limitations his entire career and has thrived at every level, including against elite BIG 10 competition.
A key reason he succeeds against most receivers is his mentality. Ponds never backs down from a matchup; he’s fearless in coverage and seeks tough competition. This is evident in contested catch situations. Obviously, he doesn’t go 100%, but he consistently battles and uses his physicality to win a majority of reps.
Beyond his mentality, Ponds is an exceptional athlete. He has blazing long speed and can’t be outran in coverage. Additionally, his short-area quickness is amazing, which allows him to stick with quick, twitchy receivers. He’s a smooth mover and effortlessly transitions from backpedaling to sprinting.
His athleticism is superb, but his technique may be more impressive. Ponds has excellent press technique and is insanely sticky in man coverage. He can easily mirror an opposing receiver and anticipate their next move, oftentimes running the route for them. Ponds doesn’t panic when the ball is in the air; rather, he stays composed, reads the receiver's eyes, and makes a play. His film should be used to teach the next generation of cornerbacks the correct technique.
Most fans will expect Ponds to struggle against the run due to his stature, but this isn’t correct. The former Hoosier has an outstanding downhill trigger and races to reach the ball carrier. He has an uncanny ability to navigate through traffic and make the tackle. Despite this, he’s still not perfect and struggles to separate from blocks if someone gets their hands on him. Regardless, Ponds is still a high-impact player on every down.
One of the biggest questions surrounding Ponds is where he will play at the next level. He started on the outside at Indiana, but some analysts have predicted a move to the slot due to his size. His future position will likely depend on the defense he enters and what the biggest positional need is. For some teams, he will start on the outside, while others may ask him to move to the slot. Either way, his IQ and the above-mentioned skills will allow him to make the transition.
Overall, Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds should get more first-round hype than he currently does. His frame is concerning, and will be the reason if he drops, but his mentality, athleticism, and technique will help him translate to the NFL and be a future star. He undoubtedly should be high on the Vikings draft board come draft day.